Down 3-0 to the NYR……As a Caps fan, I wasn’t expecting much…..just glad to see the Hershey Kids get a little taste of NHL playoffs. The playoff Caps have played like the 1st Half (horrible) team. The Caps team that beat TB-BOS-PHIL just prior to this series has yet to show up. One last thing….. I’ve never seen a team have so much trouble scoring from 5 feet out.
The 2023-24 Capitals have been a Tale of Two Seasons / Tale of Two Teams. Pre-Season convos echoed an aging team to not make the playoffs while the Caps were to only focus on Ovi’s goal chase. Since the season’s start, the Caps lost their #1 & #2 centers (Backstrom & Kuznetsov). They were “sellers” at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Caps (org.) slowly added the Hershey Kids into the everyday lineup. Then add the hottest goalie since March 1 in Charlie Lindgren (6 shuouts). A recipe for a possible upset over the NYR.
Last year, Lindgren/Caps beat Boston (at home) for their 2nd home loss/year. During that game, Charlie lost his glove in a crease scuffle and had blocked a BOS shot with his bare hand. Late in the game, Charlie left the game in the 3rd period with some body pain. The Boston fans gave Charlie a “standing-O” as he left the ice.
Stephen Strasburg retiring… got a 7-year, $245 million contract in Dec 2019. He finished his career going 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA in 31 innings since the ink dried. Horrible contract, but at least he got the Nats a championship.
Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery were looking to get similar deals this past winter, but the growing injury concerns clearly explain why owners are hardly willing to dole out long-term contracts to these guys. Aaron Nola (recent 7yr/$170+M extension) should be counting his blessings. Who else thinks PHI will end up regretting it? Guess it’ll hardly matter if he can help them win a WS before his arm explodes.
Baseball’s at a crossroads. Many of the game’s best aces are falling victim to devastating arm injuries, abbreviating potential HOF careers and robbing fans of a fundamental part of the game’s overall entertainment factor. Coddling pitchers with five-n-dives ain’t working if these guys are continuing to train for max effort on every pitch, throwing 95+ with ridiculous spin rate expectations and complicating natural repertoires by varying grips/slots in order to add secondary pitches that may or may not make a difference in arsenal quality. Strider added a curveball this spring… hmmm. I understand guys constantly working to get better, but perhaps that was a little unnecessary when you’re already dominating the game (?).
They gotta figure out a better way to keep these guys healthy. It all starts when these kids are in travel ball, trying to burn up radar guns at 16 yrs old when their ligaments aren’t even close to maturation (26 y/o). Then they reach the minors and start adding splitties and sweepers and ghost forks and anything else that could strain their still-growing but tender ligaments even more.
Despite Toronto winning last night, there were some positives for the Bolts.
1. That game ended in regulation and didn’t result in two points for Toronto AND one point for Washington.
2. Washington’s loss raised the chances of the Bolts clinching a playoff spot.
3. Detroit lost, lowering the Bolts’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot to 10.
NJ is currently trailing the Bolts by 11 points and having played one more game (two more games after tonight). So a Devils win isn’t that big of a deal.
How about them CAPS !! Just got done with a 5-game NW Terr. road trip. They went
L-L-W-W-W and moved into the WC2 spot (& 1 point behind Metro #3 Philly).
MIKE … Kazoo … I’m driving up to Myrtle Beach to spend time between apr 27 and May 1st
I’m thinking since I am a 1/3 to Maine to continue north for my moms 91 birthday May 4th.
Mike where do you live now. Kazoo can you make it out to the 81 FWY to meet up
It was a Basketball Pool I devised many many years ago that combined strategy and
competition with practically every game……..from Round 1 to the Final Four.
(Imagine, you’re actually rooting for your longshot to go into OT because it also
means some points for you……..if they lose !).
This Pool gives you the chance to “come from behind” in the Final Four to win
it all ….. and it has been done in the past. This Pool also gives you the chance to
actually see who you’re up against in every match-up & where you stand after
every game & gameday. SET-UP and OBJECTIVE – Each player gets to choose 16 teams (4 teams in each
Region). These chosen teams are yours for the whole tournament. Player with
The most points, WINS !! CHOOSING TEAMS – There will be A, B, C, & D picks in each region.
A = choice of #1, #2, or #3 seed
B = choice of #4, #5, or #6 seed
C = choice of #7, #8, #9, or #10 seed
D = choice of #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, or #16 seed PRE Final Four Point System – Players are rewarded points equaling the seed
Value. For example, a #6 seed victory earns 6 points. Extra Points —
OT Loss = half the seed value
OT win = seed value
2OT win = 2X seed value (and so on) The Final Four Point System – Players are rewarded points equaling the
margin of victory. For example, a 12 point win equals 12 points.
Extras……..OT Loss = original seed value and
any OT win = margin of victory. STRATEGY –
A (1-3) strong candidate for Final Four
B (4-6) dark horse for Final Four
C (7-10) 2 or 3 wins from the right team(s)
D (11-16) pick an “Upset Special”
C’s & D’s get you early points
A’s & B’s bring the points home (Final Four)
1931 Willie Mays
1934 Luis Aparicio
1935 Sandy Koufax
1936 Bill Mazeroski
1937 Orlando Cepeda
1937 Juan Marichal
1938 Jim Kaat
1938 Tony Oliva
1939 Carl Yastrzemski
Curtis Granderson
Felix Hernandez – YES
Adam Jones
Ian Kinsler
Russell Martin
Brian McCann
Dustin Pedroia
Hanley Ramirez
CC Sabathia – YES
Ichiro Suzuki – YES
Troy Tulowitzski
Ben Zobrist
MLB Stats — Toughest Schedules (So Far and Ahead)
Toughest So Far
1 – CWS
2 – LAA
3 – SD
4 – MIN
5 – NYM
6 – TOR
7 – BOS
8 – HOUS
9 – SEA
10 – OAK
26 – STL
27 – DET
28 – LAD
29 – CLEV
30 – PHIL
26-30 >> Easiest
Toughest Ahead
1 – TB
2 – STL
3 – PHIL
4 – WSH
5 – DET
6 – OAK
7 – CLEV
8 – MIA
9 – TOR
10 – CWS
26 – KC
27 – HOUS
28 – ARIZ
29 – NYM
30 – MILW
—————————–
Tough So Far & Ahead >> CWS, OAK, & TOR
Tough So Far, Easier Ahead >> NYM, HOUS
Easier So Far, Tough Ahead >> STL, DET, CLEV, PHIL
BAL #19 So Far & #19 Ahead
TB #23 So Far & #1 Ahead
Down 3-0 to the NYR……As a Caps fan, I wasn’t expecting much…..just glad to see the Hershey Kids get a little taste of NHL playoffs. The playoff Caps have played like the 1st Half (horrible) team. The Caps team that beat TB-BOS-PHIL just prior to this series has yet to show up. One last thing….. I’ve never seen a team have so much trouble scoring from 5 feet out.
The 2023-24 Capitals have been a Tale of Two Seasons / Tale of Two Teams. Pre-Season convos echoed an aging team to not make the playoffs while the Caps were to only focus on Ovi’s goal chase. Since the season’s start, the Caps lost their #1 & #2 centers (Backstrom & Kuznetsov). They were “sellers” at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Caps (org.) slowly added the Hershey Kids into the everyday lineup. Then add the hottest goalie since March 1 in Charlie Lindgren (6 shuouts). A recipe for a possible upset over the NYR.
Last year, Lindgren/Caps beat Boston (at home) for their 2nd home loss/year. During that game, Charlie lost his glove in a crease scuffle and had blocked a BOS shot with his bare hand. Late in the game, Charlie left the game in the 3rd period with some body pain. The Boston fans gave Charlie a “standing-O” as he left the ice.
2023-24 NHL Season vs. (March+April)
110 FLA……..28 TBL
109 BOS…….26 FLA
102 TOR…….26 TOR
098 TBL*
114 NYR…….33 CAR
111 CAR…….31 NYR
094 NYI……..30 NYI
091 WSH*…..28 WSH*
…………………26 PITT*
Going on only March+April, Pittsburgh would have
gotten in instead of Boston
113 DALL……32 DALL
108 WPG……31 WPG
105 COLO….29 NSH
099 NSH*…..29 STL*
………………..28 COLO*
109 VAN…….32 EDM
104 EDM……29 LAK
098 VGK…….26 VAN
097 LAK*
Going on March+April, St. Louis would have
gotten in instead of Vegas
Boston & Vegas each had 25pts. for March+April
WPG went 8-0 for the month of April
Three players in NHL history have scored 40 goals and recorded 100 assists in a single season:
– Wayne Gretzky
– Mario Lemieux
– Nikita Kucherov
Greatness.
https://x.com/spittinchiclets/status/1780758590984216918
Stephen Strasburg retiring… got a 7-year, $245 million contract in Dec 2019. He finished his career going 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA in 31 innings since the ink dried. Horrible contract, but at least he got the Nats a championship.
Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery were looking to get similar deals this past winter, but the growing injury concerns clearly explain why owners are hardly willing to dole out long-term contracts to these guys. Aaron Nola (recent 7yr/$170+M extension) should be counting his blessings. Who else thinks PHI will end up regretting it? Guess it’ll hardly matter if he can help them win a WS before his arm explodes.
COLE. OHTANI. deGROM. McCLANAHAN. ALCANTARA. BIEBER. WOODRUFF. EURY. BAUTISTA. STRIDER. ETCETERA… ETC.
Baseball’s at a crossroads. Many of the game’s best aces are falling victim to devastating arm injuries, abbreviating potential HOF careers and robbing fans of a fundamental part of the game’s overall entertainment factor. Coddling pitchers with five-n-dives ain’t working if these guys are continuing to train for max effort on every pitch, throwing 95+ with ridiculous spin rate expectations and complicating natural repertoires by varying grips/slots in order to add secondary pitches that may or may not make a difference in arsenal quality. Strider added a curveball this spring… hmmm. I understand guys constantly working to get better, but perhaps that was a little unnecessary when you’re already dominating the game (?).
They gotta figure out a better way to keep these guys healthy. It all starts when these kids are in travel ball, trying to burn up radar guns at 16 yrs old when their ligaments aren’t even close to maturation (26 y/o). Then they reach the minors and start adding splitties and sweepers and ghost forks and anything else that could strain their still-growing but tender ligaments even more.
What a staff …..
I guess you have to click on image to see
badd spreadsheet .. lol ingnore totals do them yourself
And on a 3-city west coast trip to start the season (which isn’t completely insignificant regardless of who you’re playing). Impressive so far.
Redsox young rotation
Where do I stand amongst ESPN & ESPN Celebrities in this year’s MM POOL?
660 Carlos Boozer
630 Mike Greenberg
600 ME
600 Jay Bilas
550 Hannah Storm
520 Stephen A. Smith
870 Eleanor Garrett (#1 ESPN)
Despite Toronto winning last night, there were some positives for the Bolts.
1. That game ended in regulation and didn’t result in two points for Toronto AND one point for Washington.
2. Washington’s loss raised the chances of the Bolts clinching a playoff spot.
3. Detroit lost, lowering the Bolts’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot to 10.
NJ is currently trailing the Bolts by 11 points and having played one more game (two more games after tonight). So a Devils win isn’t that big of a deal.
https://week28.org/sports/#comment-4811
I’ll look to join ya one of those days. Actually going to the Rays game (hosting the Giants) on Fri, April 12.
Testing one two
FBL – First Week HISTORY
.655…..104-53-8 / 9-1-1 (.864) Donnie
.573…..88-64-13 / 5-5-1 (.500) Mike
.500…..71-71-8 / 3-6-1 (.350) Kazoo
.467…..21-24-0 / 1-2-0 (.333) Ed
.387…..55-89-6 / 4-6-0 (.400) Shuter
.367…..52-92-6 / 2-7-1 (.250) Quick
FBL Week 1 Matchups — History
Mike vs. Shuter
2014…Mike 12-1-2
2015…Mike 10-4-1
2016…Shuter 8-6-1
2017…Mike 15-0-0
Donnie vs. Quick
2014…Donnie 10-5-0
2017…Donnie 13-1-1
2018…Donnie 12-3-0
2019…Donnie 11-3-1
Domination
The WORM has TURNED.
Where do I stand amongst ESPN & ESPN Celebrities in this year’s MM POOL?
500 Carlos Boozer
480 ME
470 Mike Greenberg
440 Stephen A. Smith
440 Jay Bilas
430 Hannah Storm
610 (3) Top ESPN Pool Players
Nice
I plugged in My Sample entry of MY MM POOL. Maybe, in the years to come (on WS), I could promote a “Beat The Coach” kinda contest.
Dirty Water looks like the team to beat this year
How about them CAPS !! Just got done with a 5-game NW Terr. road trip. They went
L-L-W-W-W and moved into the WC2 spot (& 1 point behind Metro #3 Philly).
Also guys I will e in St Pete April 10 and 11 if you can join
MIKE … Kazoo … I’m driving up to Myrtle Beach to spend time between apr 27 and May 1st
I’m thinking since I am a 1/3 to Maine to continue north for my moms 91 birthday May 4th.
Mike where do you live now. Kazoo can you make it out to the 81 FWY to meet up
I live in Woodstock, Va……some 40+ miles north [I-81] of Harrisonburg – where we last met.
Possibilities…..
I’m not heading north past Myrtle Beach this time. My back is “not doing well”
MIKE O.’s “MARCH MADNESS POOL”
It was a Basketball Pool I devised many many years ago that combined strategy and
competition with practically every game……..from Round 1 to the Final Four.
(Imagine, you’re actually rooting for your longshot to go into OT because it also
means some points for you……..if they lose !).
This Pool gives you the chance to “come from behind” in the Final Four to win
it all ….. and it has been done in the past. This Pool also gives you the chance to
actually see who you’re up against in every match-up & where you stand after
every game & gameday.
SET-UP and OBJECTIVE – Each player gets to choose 16 teams (4 teams in each
Region). These chosen teams are yours for the whole tournament. Player with
The most points, WINS !!
CHOOSING TEAMS – There will be A, B, C, & D picks in each region.
A = choice of #1, #2, or #3 seed
B = choice of #4, #5, or #6 seed
C = choice of #7, #8, #9, or #10 seed
D = choice of #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, or #16 seed
PRE Final Four Point System – Players are rewarded points equaling the seed
Value. For example, a #6 seed victory earns 6 points. Extra Points —
OT Loss = half the seed value
OT win = seed value
2OT win = 2X seed value (and so on)
The Final Four Point System – Players are rewarded points equaling the
margin of victory. For example, a 12 point win equals 12 points.
Extras……..OT Loss = original seed value and
any OT win = margin of victory.
STRATEGY –
A (1-3) strong candidate for Final Four
B (4-6) dark horse for Final Four
C (7-10) 2 or 3 wins from the right team(s)
D (11-16) pick an “Upset Special”
C’s & D’s get you early points
A’s & B’s bring the points home (Final Four)
I’ve already picked my 16 teams.
Test
Oldest Living MLB HOF Players
1931 Willie Mays
1934 Luis Aparicio
1935 Sandy Koufax
1936 Bill Mazeroski
1937 Orlando Cepeda
1937 Juan Marichal
1938 Jim Kaat
1938 Tony Oliva
1939 Carl Yastrzemski
Notable 2025 HOF First-Year Eligibles
Curtis Granderson
Felix Hernandez – YES
Adam Jones
Ian Kinsler
Russell Martin
Brian McCann
Dustin Pedroia
Hanley Ramirez
CC Sabathia – YES
Ichiro Suzuki – YES
Troy Tulowitzski
Ben Zobrist
YES, my guesses
Saw this today……
2024 — Number of Top-100 prospects for each MLB team
6 – MILW
5 – Az, BAL, BOS, CHC, CWS, CINC,DET, LAD
4 – MIN, NYM, PITT, SD, TB, WSH
3 – CLEV, COLO, NYY, PHIL, SF, SEA, StL, TEX, TOR
1 – ATL, LAA, MIA
0 – HOUS, KC, OAK